Web App DevelopmentAll versions of Safari—Safari on the desktop and Safari on iOS—use the same WebKit engine.Look at the iOS developer Library documentation for more information.

Dashcode helps you create mobile Safari web applications. Apple provides a comprehensive suite of developer tools (including Dashcode) for creating Apps. Dashcode is part of the Xcode suite which include applications to help you design, create, debug, and optimize your software. You can download the Xcode tools from the Apple Developer Connection (ADC) website (http://developer.apple.com). Registration is required, but free.A useful workflow for developing Apps is at: Tools Workflow Guide for iOS

An alternative to Dashcode is to use web app frameworks that provides web app tools to help developers build HTML5 apps the look and feel native and run on any device. Available fromwww.sencha.com sproutcore.comjQuerymobile.com

Tools needed* A Mac - with Lion (for Xcode)* Test devices (can use simulator but better to have some devices to test on)* iOS developer programBy being a paid up developer can distribute your Apps directly to 100 devices to test without having to publish to App store. Paid up developer costs Australia $129.Enterprise program developer is for the entire organisation US $299/year but only for in-house app distribution not to App store.

The iBook Author App is only available from your computer not your iPad. However it is free and has templates for easy iBook creation and widgets to create quizzes, incorporate keynotes, video, images etc. (Note you do need Mac OS version 10.7 or later to download)

Feedback from the dayWe had a mixture of participants at the workshop with differing backgrounds and skills. We also had a few students attending. For some developing an App was not as simple as many of us had envisaged. While for others they were in their element. Participants feedback was that more understanding of programming code with a lead up workshop might be useful and more hands on activities early in the day. Alternatively start creating Apps using a template design then progress to full creation.

All the participants were grateful to the Apple presenters who obviously knew their stuff and came prepared on the day to give us a comprehensive introduction to App development. At least one participant is now doing the iTunes U Stanford course on programming as a lead up to app writing.